This review delves into a personal account that, while detailing remarkable achievements, is unfortunately marred by an overwhelming sense of arrogance and a failure to fully connect with the reader. The introductory chapters may initially draw the reader in with promises of an engaging narrative, but the frequent and disorienting flashbacks, coupled with a consistently cocky and self-aggrandizing tone, quickly lead to a loss of interest. While certain descriptive passages and glimpses into the author’s background possess a degree of fascination, the overall impression is that of an individual lacking modesty.
The author’s accomplishments are, by all accounts, extraordinary. However, the manner in which these triumphs are recounted often comes across as smug. This perception is not merely subjective; at one point, a friend directly confronts the author, stating, “Michael, you’re arrogant…” This external validation of the reviewer’s growing unease offered a sense of relief, confirming that the perceived arrogance was not solely an isolated interpretation.
A significant contributing factor to the reader’s disengagement is the author’s word choice, which repeatedly creates an off-putting impression. For instance, the blunt declaration, “Friends and family often asked if I had survivor’s remorse. I did not,” lacks the sensitivity one might expect. Similarly, the gratuitous mention of his former income, “Taking the offer would also mean giving up my six-figure regional sales manager’s salary,” serves only to highlight a financial status that feels unnecessary to the narrative and perhaps even ostentatious. The author’s unwavering self-importance is further underscored by statements like, “I will never get tired of telling my story…”
The narrative also falters when discussing the training of his service dog. The author states, “People ask me, ‘How did you train that dog to do that?’ I just put her through the training, and the rest was her will and her strong temperament.” This assertion neglects to acknowledge that the dog was already trained prior to being matched with him, a crucial detail that diminishes the author’s claim of sole credit. Furthermore, the author’s attempt to present his efforts at diffusing uncomfortable situations with humor as unique is unconvincing: “I prefer to defuse uncomfortable situations with humor, engaging people and trying to help keep every interaction positive.” This is a common social grace, not a distinguishing characteristic.
A notable inconsistency emerges in the author’s perspective on assistance. He states, “They were treating me like I was weak and helpless, and it was time to take a stand… When you are blind, most everything is risky. The world isn’t set up with us in mind. But we can and do cope.” Yet, paradoxically, he expresses offense when offered help or special consideration in a considerate manner. This creates a contradiction: he complains about the world’s lack of accommodation for the blind but rejects a helping hand. His desire for full integration is articulated as, “I will know that I’m a real first-class citizen when I can walk into restaurants with friends and the servers ask me for my order rather than asking my sighted colleagues, ‘What does he want?'” While this sentiment reflects an understandable aspiration for equality, his expectation of being treated identically in a society not yet fully adapted to his needs appears unrealistic.
Instead of a self-congratulatory memoir, the author could have leveraged his platform to educate the sighted community, advocating for greater integration and understanding. Alternatively, establishing a company to cater to the specific needs of the visually impaired community could have been a more constructive use of his efforts. This book, unfortunately, misses these opportunities.
Ultimately, this review reflects a significant re-evaluation, downgrading the initial rating from two stars to a single star. The points discussed above—the arrogance, the selective crediting, and the missed opportunities for advocacy—detract substantially from the narrative. While the author and his dog’s survival and his many accomplishments are commendable, the book’s execution falls short of its potential.
